Mango plant named `NMBP-4069&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Mango plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘NMBP-4069’, is provided which forms fruit with an average weight of 378 grams and with skin that is soft pink to red blush over a pale yellow background in coloration. The new variety is a mid-season variety.

Botanical/commercial classification: Latin name—Mangifera indica L.Common name—Mango Plant. Varietal Denomination—‘NMBP-4069’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Mangifera indica Mango plant of the present inventionwas created by closed pollination using hand pollination techniques in1994 in Northern Territory, Australia wherein two parents whichpreviously had been studied were crossed with the intent that they wouldcontribute the desired characteristics. The new cultivar was selectedafter comparative evaluation of tree and fruit characteristics overseveral seasons at two sites: Mareeba, Queensland and Darwin, NorthernTerritory in Australia. The female parent (i.e., seed parent) of the newvariety was the ‘Van Dyke’ variety (non-patented). The male parent(i.e., pollen parent) was the ‘Kensington Pride’ variety (non-patented).

The parentage can be summarized as follows:

‘Van Dyke’x‘Kensington Pride’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. The new variety was grafted on the ‘Kensington Pride’variety in late 1995 and field planted at Southedge research station,Queensland, Australia on Mar. 4, 1996. The candidate cultivar wasselected after comparative evaluation of tree and fruit characteristicsover several seasons. Selective study resulted in the identification ofa single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Mango plant of the present invention possessesthe following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a medium vigor plant with a compact dense canopy,    -   (b) exhibits a medium to heavy yielding with a tendency for        biennial bearing,    -   (c) produces monoembryonic seed,    -   (d) has a harvest season that is early to mid-season, and    -   (e) provides a fruit with a sweet rich ‘Kensington Pride’        variety style flavor with a slight tang.

The new variety successfully meets the needs of the horticulturalindustry.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, the ‘Van Dyke’ variety provides mature fruit that has aflattened shape at the stylar scar and has a Floridian type flavor, andthe ‘Kensington Pride’ variety provides a concave young leaf shape incross section, whereas the new variety provides mature fruit that has apointed shape at the stylar scar, has a sweet rich ‘Kensington Pride’variety style with a slight tang flavor, and provides a straight youngleaf shape in cross section. Additionally, the new variety can bereadily distinguished from other known cultivars. For example, the‘Delta R2E2’ variety (non-patented) produces polyembryonic seeds, whilethe new variety is monoembryonic.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation inAustralia by a number of routes, including by grafting of cuttings. Thetypical asexual propagation of the new variety has been to initiallyincrease the numbers of trees for advanced trials and evaluation andmore recently for supply of on-farm large scale trials of the variety.Propagation has been by Whip and Tongue or cleft grafting of the newvariety (scion) on to a seedling rootstock of the variety ‘KensingtonPride’ in the Mareeba district of Queensland, Darwin in the NorthernTerritory, or Kununurra in Western Australia. Asexual propagation inAustralia has shown that the characteristics of the new variety arestable and strictly transmissible by asexual propagation from onegeneration to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexualpropagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘NMBP-4069’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety.

FIG. 1—illustrates specimens of multiple branches with fruit on an eightyear-old tree.

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a mature leaf—upper surface.

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of an immature leaf—lower surface.

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a single three year-old plant withflowers.

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a single six year-old plant with maturefruit.

FIG. 6—illustrates specimens of multiple fruit growing on aninflorescence on a six year-old tree.

FIG. 7—illustrates specimens of multiple plants with mature fruit.

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of mature ripening fruit growing on abranch.

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of ripe fruit—halved—displaying flesh,halved endocarp, and halved embryo.

FIG. 10—illustrates a comparison of fruit from plants of the new varietyand that of the ‘Kensington Pride’ variety.

FIG. 11—illustrates specimens of fruit halved and whole and illustratesa specimen of the embryo and fibrous endocarp.

FIG. 12—illustrates specimens of ripe fruit.

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of ripe fruit—side view.

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of ripe fruit—opposite side view.

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of ripe fruit—top view—showing peduncleattachment.

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of ripe fruit—halved—displaying flesh andintact fibrous endocarp.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (“R.H.S.” Colour Chart), London, England, FourthEdition, 2001. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart hasbeen added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. Thedescription is based on a trial design which was a randomized completeblock design with five single 8-10 year old tree replicates inQueensland, Australia. 10 to 20 random measurements of each characterwere assessed on each of the five single tree replicates.

PLANT

-   a. Vigor: Commonly medium to high vigor tree with a compact medium    to dense canopy, and the canopy shape is spreading.-   b. Attitude of main branches: Erect to horizontal and spreading.-   c. Height: Commonly 4 to 6 m in 8 to 10-year-old trees under    standard annual pruning.-   d. Width: Commonly 4 m in 8 to 10-year-old trees under standard    annual pruning.-   e. Bark: Commonly no striation and medium rough; texture is medium;    and color is commonly near Grey-Brown Group 199B.

LEAVES

-   a. Anthocyanin: Present with medium to strong intensity and a    brownish coloration on immature leaves.-   b. Leaf blade:    -   -   Shape.—Generally elliptic with an obtuse base and the apex            shape varies approximately 34% being attenuate, 40% being            acuminate, and 26% being acute, straight in cross section,            and is commonly always symmetric.        -   Relief of upper face.—Smooth.        -   Undulation of margin.—Weakly present.        -   Attitude.—Horizontal.        -   Size.—Length is typically 195.3 mm±8.94 std. dev. on            average; width is typically 51.57 mm±2.13 std. dev. on            average; and average length to width ratio is typically            3.84:1±0.16 std. dev.        -   Color of lower surface of mature leaf.—Commonly near            Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Color of upper surface of mature leaf.—Commonly near Green            Group 137A.        -   Color of lower surface of immature leaf.—Commonly near            Greyed-Orange Group 177A.        -   Color of upper surface of immature leaf.—Commonly near            Greyed-Orange Group 166A.        -   Twisting.—Absent.        -   Curvature of midrib.—Present and position is commonly from            apex.        -   Spacing of secondary veins.—Medium.        -   Predominant relief of veins on upper surface.—Smooth.        -   Serration.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Present.        -   Venation.—Pinnate with medium secondary veins which are            approximately 11.33 mm±0.62 std. dev. apart, and the color            is commonly near Green-Yellow Group 1B.-   c. Petiole:    -   -   Attitude.—Perpendicular.        -   Length.—Very short to short, commonly between 10 and 33 mm,            approximately 17.45 mm on average.        -   Diameter.—Commonly between 2.32 and 3.58 mm.        -   Color.—Not observed at this stage.

INFLORESCENCE

-   a. Attitude of axis: Horizontal.-   b. Size: Length is typically 302.5 mm±22.99 std. dev. on average;    width is typically 176.25 mm±23.43 std. dev. on average; and length    to width ration is typically 1.81:1±0.29 std. dev. on average.-   c. Number of inflorescence branches: 20.66±2.04 std. dev., on    average.-   d. Color of axis and branches: Commonly near Red-Purple Group 58A.-   e. Pubescence on axis and branches: Very sparse.-   f. Leafy bracts: Present; size, shape and color designation not    observed.-   g. Number of flowers per inflorescence: Variable, commonly between    300 and 1500.-   h. Size of flower: Diameter is approximately 7.35 mm±0.26 std. dev.,    on average.-   i. Position of fertile stamen(s) in relation to style: Parallel.-   j. Length of fertile stamen(s) in relation to style: Equal.-   k. Development of staminodes: Weak to medium.-   l. Anthocyanin coloration: Medium to strong intensity present in old    flowers.-   m. Inflorescence type: Narrowly to broadly conical panicle.-   n. Percentage of hermaphrodite flowers and male flowers pre    inflorescence: Varies depending on temperature during inflorescence    development.-   o. Color of petal pre-anthesis: Commonly near Green-Yellow Group 1D.-   p. Color of sepal pre-anthesis: Commonly near Green-Yellow Group    145C.-   q. Color of flower peduncle pre-anthesis: Commonly near Green-Yellow    145A.-   r. Color of wilted petal post-anthesis: Commonly near Red-Purple    Group 58C.-   s. Color of sepal post-anthesis: Commonly near Green-Yellow Group    145A.-   t. Color of flower peduncle post-anthesis: Commonly near    Green-Yellow Group 145A.-   u. Anthocyanin coloration wilted petal post-anthesis: Present,    intensity is medium to strong.-   v. Pistil: Single.-   w. Staminodes: Typically 3 present.-   x. Filament and style: Color not observed.

FRUIT

-   a. Shape: Ovate and round with a slight beak; slightly sunken stem    attachment; and both dorsal and ventral shoulders are rounded    outward.-   b. Flavor: Commonly a sweet rich ‘Kensington Pride’ variety style    with a slight tang, no turpentine flavor.-   c. Mature fruit:    -   -   Size.—Length is approximately 98.43 mm±3.89 std. dev., on            average, width is approximately 95.42 mm±5.78 std. dev., on            average, depth is approximately 86.3 mm on average, and            length/width ratio is approximately 1.03±0.06 std. dev., on            average.        -   Weight.—Approximately 378 g on average, commonly 325 to 500            g.        -   Skin color.—Background is commonly near Yellow-Green Group            151A, blush is commonly near Red Group 44A over 50% of the            skin when grown in the sun; fruit inside the canopy do not            blush.        -   Bloom on skin.—Inconspicuous.        -   Lenticels.—Medium density with weak to medium            conspicuousness; size is medium; color is commonly yellow;            and absent is a roughness of the surface caused by the            lenticels.        -   Stalk cavity.—Present with a shallow depth.        -   Neck.—Absent.        -   Groove in ventral shoulder.—Present with a short length and            very shallow to shallow depth.        -   Lumpiness on ventral shoulder.—Absent.        -   Sinus proximal of stylar scar.—Absent.        -   Bulge proximal of stylar scar.—Absent.        -   Shape at stylar scar.—Pointed.-   d. Ripe fruit:    -   -   Skin color.—Predominantly yellow and red, background is            commonly near Yellow-Orange Group 22B, and blush is commonly            near Red Group 44A with a medium degree of speckled pattern            of skin color.        -   Thickness of skin.—Medium to thick; approximately 0.86 mm on            average.        -   Adherence of skin to flesh.—Weak to medium.        -   Main color of flesh.—Commonly near Yellow-Orange Group 23A.        -   Firmness.—Soft; approximately 1.02 mm depression, 50 g for            30 sec on average, similar to the ‘R2E2’ variety.        -   Juiciness.—Medium.        -   Texture of flesh.—Medium.        -   Pulp color.—Commonly yellow/orange.        -   Pulp texture.—Commonly soft.        -   Pulp fiber.—Very low.        -   Pulp depth.—Approximately 30 mm on average in a cut cheek.-   e. Fruit count per panicle: Predominantly single fruit per panicle.-   f. Seed:    -   -   Prominence of point at stylar area.—Weak to medium.        -   Relief of stone surface.—Smooth to grooved.        -   Sharp points on surface.—Absent.        -   Fibres on cheeks of stone.—Short and medium density.        -   Texture of fibre.—Fine.        -   Endocarp.—Medium to thick thickness, color is not observed.

DEVELOPMENT

-   a. Seed embryony: Monoembryonic.-   b. Time of fruit maturity: Medium, varies with temperature; in    Mareeba district of Queensland Australia the typical length of fruit    maturing is between three months and four months, one week.-   c. Cropping: Commonly seven-year-old trees in their fourth year of    cropping produce approximately 61 to 171 kg of fruit per tree.-   d. Harvest season: Commonly early to mid-season.-   e. Yield: Commonly medium to heavy with tendency for biennial    bearing.-   f. Hardiness: Coldest observed temperature withstood was 4° C.;    hottest observed temperature withstood was 39° C.-   g. Bloom: Varies from year to year and typically between mid-July    and late September in Mareeba district of Queensland Australia.-   h. Pest/disease resistance: Not observed to date.-   i. Shipping quality, fruit storage life, fruit market use: Not    observed to date.

Plants of the ‘NMBP-4069’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Mango plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) displays a medium vigorplant with a compact dense canopy, (b) exhibits a medium to heavyyielding with a tendency for biennial bearing, (c) producesmonoembryonic seed, (d) has a harvest season that is early tomid-season, and (e) provides a fruit with a sweet rich ‘KensingtonPride’ variety style flavor with a slight tang; substantially as hereinshown and described.